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“Look, I do not deny that, but we could give even more. We could expand; maybe take over the vacant floor above us.”
“I’m declining the offer.”
“You’re making this personal, and it’s not.”
“I’m not, he is. This is a bribe. Blair might think I’m not as astute a businessman as he is, but he’s wrong. Check out the figures and tell me what you think.”
I had Lucian one of the packets, and as he pages through, I see his face change to concern.
“The whole deal is more in our favor. Why would he do that?”
“I have something to tell you about my trip to Atlanta.”
I tell Lucian the story of seeing Declan in the restaurant with that young woman.
“So, you think he made this skew to our side to keep you quiet?”
“Yes. I think that’s exactly what he did. It’s too good an offer, and it benefits us more than him. From what I’ve read about Declan and his business practices, it was done on purpose. He’s a fucking shark with pinpoint precision when it comes to making deals. He’s just not going to throw out something like this by accident.”
“So why not take advantage of it?”
“Because he’s a fucking snake. He’ll wait all coiled up and then strike, changing the rules once we get comfortable. I don’t want to get involved. Contract or no contract, he’ll make changes somehow. He’ll hold it over our heads, and I don’t want to be controlled.”
“You think there is no way to make this work?”
“No. Let it go. We tell him that we have too many projects and commitments to get into bed with him.”
“And this has nothing to do with Lana?”
“It has everything to do with Lana, but I won’t let her become involved any more than she already is. I know that calculating fuck has a reason for her to become friends with me again. I think he knows I want her.”
“I’m sorry to see such a great deal go down. When are you going to tell him?”
“I’ll let it run until next Tuesday and then tell him no. If I let him know immediately, he’ll say I took no time to review the offer. This way, he thinks we’re carefully reviewing everything. It will give him confidence.”
“You sound like you’re actually enjoying this game.”
“I am. I’m so angry that he would use Eltech like that. We’re not just some shit company. Declan was born with a silver spoon up his ass. He had the financial resources to get where he is thanks to his father. I had none of that and took this company from zero to where it is now. I don’t like his approach at thinking I’m a fool. He is turning out to be an asshole on all fronts.”
“I thought you liked the guy?”
“Initially I did, but now with all this surfacing in just the past couple of weeks, I can see he’s a phony. I think of the poor bastards he manipulates into believing he’s in it for the greater good and that pay it forward bullshit. It’s anything but.”
“I would have taken it. I’m glad you see through his crap.”
“You’re a numbers guy. You see that the plan mapped out works in our favor. I’m an observer. I see what’s behind the figures and the words.”
“I never had to deal with this stuff. My father did most of the negotiating.”
“Trust me; it’s no good.”
Lucian walks out of the room, shaking his head, and I slump down in my chair, already mentally exhausted, and it’s only 1:00 PM. I’m also horny as hell. I haven’t had sex in a couple of weeks since Serena. Being around Lana is only making me worse. I need to fuck.
I decide to leave work early and buzz Jan to let her know I have a few errands so run. I stop by Clancy’s for a quick drink, then head home. I’m going hunting tonight. Serena is away for the next week on business, and she is the only regular I screw. The others I haven’t seen for months. How would it sound if I call them now?
There used to be a few clubs I frequented after Lana left me. I would spend time there just waiting to find a woman that reminded me of her. It wasn’t hard since most of the people that went to these places were looking for a good time with no strings. I hadn’t been to one of them for a while, but I’m so sexually frustrated that I needed to find someone.
At home, I search through my closet for just the right outfit, nothing too dressy. I settle on a pair of dark denim jeans and a Kelly green cashmere sweater. The weather is warming, and I only need a light jacket tonight. The club I hit, The Black Hat, is for the older crowd with occasional live music. You don’t see many college-age kids here, but it doesn’t matter to me. As long as they’re interested in no strings attached, I’m fine.
